Centre for Optimum Health

ASK THE DOCTOR SERIES  #2 Dr. Leila Kirdani Asks:

Questions about Adrenal Fatigue

• Do you feel exhausted?
• Burned out?
• Do you crave sugar and caffeine?
• Do you get frequent colds and upper respiratory infections?
• Are you gaining weight despite diet and exercise?
• Do you have muscle and joint pain?
• Have you been to your doctor and told there was nothing wrong?
• You could have adrenal fatigue!

Dr. Leila Kirdani Describes:

What is Adrenal Fatigue?

Adrenal fatigue is a condition where the adrenal glands are unable to produce the amount of cortisol, or stress-hormone, our bodies need to function during the day. 

Where Does Adrenal Fatigue Come From?

Adrenal fatigue can arise from prolonged stress, or after a major stressor such as surgery, a car accident, or even a divorce. Think of it this way: Our bodies were built for danger, not for chronic stress.  We were designed to stay alive in the face of mortal danger. 

Example: The tiger jumps out of the bush at us and our cortisol (fight or flight hormone) immediately increases to compensate.  This also causes an increase in blood sugar, so our muscles and brain have fuel to run from the tiger.  Part of our immune system is activated to produce inflammation so that if the tiger bites us we can clot well and keep running. Another part of our immune system is suppressed – the part that helps us to fight cancer, because who is worried about cancer when we are facing a tiger?  Additionally, blood flow to our intestines decreases, because we are not concerned with digesting and absorbing food when in front of a tiger.

 Dr. Leila Kirdani Explains: 

What Happens?

While these changes are important for our survival when faced with mortal danger intermittently and for short periods of time, over the long run they cause detrimental changes in the body.   In the 21^st century we are facing “tigers” all of the time. Our tigers today are childhood trauma, relationships, finances, time, job stress, car accidents, and a toxic environment. Chronically increased blood sugar leads to weight gain.   Chronically increased inflammation leads to numerous medical problems;

• including hypertension
• asthma, allergies
• arthritis
• diabetes or insulin resistance
• obesity
• muscle and joint pain.

With chronically suppressed natural killer cells we have an increased risk of cancer.  Low blood flow to the intestines over time can cause constipation, diarrhea or irritable bowel.  After years of overproducing cortisol, the adrenal glands can’t keep up.  They start to tire and then they don’t produce enough cortisol. 

All of the above changes occur if cortisol levels are too high or too low. 

Without enough cortisol, we feel exhausted all the time.  We may be irritable, anxious or depressed.

Dr. Leila Kirdani on the Traditional Doctor’s View!

Most doctors do not look for adrenal fatigue.  Doctors are trained to watch out for elevated cortisol levels, but rarely do we look for low cortisol.  There is a distinct bias in the medical community when it comes to adrenal fatigue.  For some reason doctors think that either your adrenal glands are perfectly fine, or they have ceased to function, a condition known as “Addison’s Disease” which lands you in the Intensive Care Unit.

Dr Leila Kirdani Explains:

WHAT TO DO FOR ADRENAL FATIGUE?

The good news is that there is help for adrenal fatigue!  Working with a Board Certified Doctor who is trained in adrenal fatigue is optimal, especially to obtain a proper diagnosis and direction.  However, the basic things you learned as a child can help as well.  Getting enough sleep, moderate exercise, proper diet, supplements and calming exercises like meditation are essential to healing adrenal glands.  A Functional Doctor considers the Whole Person and not just the symptom.

Ask the Doctor Series 1 – Thyroid Dr. Leila Kirdani:  ASKS?

• Do you feel tired all the time?
• Do you have mental fog?
• Do you feel depressed?
• Are you constipated?
• Are you sensitive to temperature extremes?
• Is your hair falling out?
• You could have thyroid disease!

Dr. Leila Kirdani Explains:  WHAT IS THE THYROID? The thyroid is a gland that sits at the base of our necks that is responsible for controlling the metabolic rate of our entire bodies.  Thyroid hormone controls how fast our cells work, how much work our cells do, and how many molecules of energy our cells produce. Without an optimally working thyroid gland we feel sluggish, we may have trouble loosing weight or our thought processes may become more difficult.  In essence, we believe we “slowed down” or started that “adult aging” process.   Thyroid hormone is required for the proper functioning of all cells, including the brain and the heart.  Low thyroid has been implicated in heart disease, especially congestive heart failure. Dr Leila Kirdani Educates: HOW DOES THE THYROID WORK? As with all glands and hormones, the thyroid gland is a finely tuned organ that responds to feedback mechanisms from throughout the body.  Here’s how it works: the pituitary gland in the brain produces thyroid stimulating hormone, or TSH.  This travels through the blood to stimulate the thyroid to produce thyroxine, or T4.  T4 is a protein with four iodine molecules attached to it, and is not the active form of thyroid hormone.  It needs to be taken up by the cells in the body and have an iodine molecule cleaved off, converting it to T3.  The conversion of T4 to T3 takes zinc, selenium and iodine, so if you are low in minerals this conversion will not be adequate.  T3 is the active form of thyroid hormone that travels through the body stimulating the metabolic rate of all of our cells.  Here’s the kicker: T4 can also be converted to a molecule called REVERSE T3.  Reverse T3 is the MIRROR IMAGE of T3, and as such, can bind to the T3 receptor sites.  Instead of producing stimulation, reverse T3 just sits there and does nothing.  It actually prevents T3 from binding, so reverse T3 makes your entire metabolism slower.  If you have a lot of reverse T3, even if your TSH looks good, you will still feel hypothyroid (slow thyroid).  Reverse T3 is caused by three things: stress, heavy metal toxicity, and an elevated serum insulin level. Dr. Leila Kirdani Offers: WHY ARE THYROID PROBLEMS SO PREVALENT? Our 21st century world is very hard on our thyroid glands.  We are all over-stressed, which affects our thyroids.  Toxins in our environment also affect the thyroid.  These include heavy metals and bromide.  Bromide is a chemical used in fabrics as a fire-retardant, and it displaces iodine in the thyroid which inhibits thyroid function. Dr. Leila Kirdani Offers : HOW CAN I FIX MY THYROID? Because most doctors do not recognize reverse T3, it is important to work with a doctor who is trained in anti-aging or functional medicine.  It is very important to look at your level of stress treatment.  Minerals and especially iodine are also extremely helpful for correcting thyroid function.  Detoxifying heavy metals in the system.  A complete review along with saliva and blood work gives a better direction to pursue for each individual is unique and reacts differently.